Elk Grove Residents Oppose Wal-Mart

By Todd Wilson
CNS Staff Writer

The Elk Grove City Council chambers were standing room only Wednesday night as more than 150 residents gathered to voice their concerns over plans for a new Wal-Mart store.

The controversy began in January, when the city council learned that retailer Target pulled out of plans to anchor the 16-acre The Vineyard at Madeira shopping center and the property was purchased by Wal-Mart. The project is surrounded on three sides by residential housing, including the Del Webb Glenbrooke senior community.

The council approved the shopping center project, located at the southeast corner of Bruceville Road and Whitelock Parkway, in June. Mayor Patrick Hume explained to the crowd Wednesday that once the council approves a retail project, it cannot reject a proposed user as long as they conform to the original design plans set forth for the project.

Hume said he hoped that Wal-Mart, which normally operates its stores 24 hours a day, seven days a week, would agree to limit its hours of operation at the new store from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“We intend, as forcefully and aggressively as we can, to ask that Wal-Mart be a good corporate neighbor, and restrict their hours of operation for this store,” Hume said.

Hume said Wal-Mart has the option of rejecting the Council’s requests.

“At that point, then, they are creating an adverse situation that would probably not bode well for any future development they wish to do.”

Wednesday night, speaker after speaker came forward and told the Council they were worried about hours of operation, traffic congestion and the potential for an increase in crime because of the store. Many noted that Wal-Mart already has a 24-hour store located less than two miles from the new project.

Del Webb Glenbrooke resident, Debbie Sareeram, said her home sits right next to the site, and lights from the parking lot will shine directly into her bedroom.

“It’s very disheartening for us to now find out that there could now be a 24/7 operation there, which will definitely affect our quality of life,” Sareeram said.

Although not a part of the original design plans, Target had agreed to limit its hours of operation at the shopping center. Wal-Mart reached an agreement with the city of Galt to limit its hours of operation for a store being planned in that city.

Following the meeting, Linda Ford, chair person of the Elk Grove Coalition Advocating Proper Planning, said her organization is not opposed to Wal-Mart building a store at the shopping center, but has issues with the hours of operation.

“We’re opposed to a 24/7 store in a residential neighborhood,” Ford said. “It’s unacceptable.”

Ford’s organization was formed in 2005 as part of a successful effort to stop the planned building of a Wal-Mart superstore in Elk Grove.

Council member Gary Davis said that after listening to residents’ concerns, he is going to do everything he can to oppose the building of a Wal-Mart store in the shopping center and encourage the retailer to find a better location for its store outside of a residential neighborhood.
Council member Jim Cooper said he will also oppose the store and that his biggest concern is a possible rise in crime in the area.

“I don’t have a lot of respect for Wal-Mart,” Cooper said.

Representatives from Wal-Mart did not attend the meeting, nor did they respond to requests for comment. Council members said they have meetings scheduled with representatives from Wal-Mart in the coming week and would relate citizens concerns to the company.